Commentary of Charles Spurgeon, Adam Clarke & Matthew Henry
charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself,
is not puffed up,...
Vs.4
I. It is long suffering—makrothymei.
It makes the mind firm,
--gives it power over
the angry passions,
--and furnishes it with a persevering patience, that shall
rather wait and wish for the reformation of a brother than fly out in resentment
of his conduct.
II. It is kind—chreµsteuetai.
It is is courteous and obliging. .... her heart is large, and her hand open. ....
--and not only seizes on
opportunities of doing good,
--but searches for them.
This is her general
character.
III. Charity suppresses envy: It envieth not; it is not grieved at the good of others...
If we love our neighbor we shall
--be
so far from envying his welfare,
--or being displeased with it, that we shall
share in it and rejoice at it.
IV. Charity subdues pride and vain-glory; It vaunteth not itself,.... is not bloated with self-conceit, .... It is not insolent, apt to despise others, or trample on them, or treat them with contempt and scorn....
IV. Charity subdues pride and vain-glory; It vaunteth not itself,.... is not bloated with self-conceit, .... It is not insolent, apt to despise others, or trample on them, or treat them with contempt and scorn....
Is not puffed up - Ου φυσιουται·--
--Is not inflated with a sense of its own importance;
--for it knows it has
nothing but what it has received;
--and that it deserves nothing that it
has got. Every man, whose heart is full of the love of God, is full of
humility;
Charity calms the angry passions,
instead of raising them.